Strawberry plant named ‘diligent’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’. This new strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its large fruit size, small calyx, early fruit production, medium to small plant size, fruiting trusses held above the plant, and short fruiting trusses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘DILIGENT’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2004 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-2010’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California in the winter of 2006. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, California and San Joaquin County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true-to-type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘DILIGENT’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the humidity and moderate temperatures needed to produce a strong, vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Large fruit size;     -   2. Small calyx;     -   3. Early fruit production;     -   4. Medium to small plant;     -   5. Fruiting trusses held above the plant; and     -   6. Short fruiting trusses.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘DILIGENT’ is ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-959’, ‘DILIGENT’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 ‘BG-959’ Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864) Fruit: size (grams) 35.4 (large) 27.2 (medium) Fruit: color of Medium red Ranges from medium to internal flesh dark red Fruit: size of calyx Slightly smaller Slightly larger relative to fruit diameter Fruit: hollow center Absent or very weak Ranges from moderate to expression strong Plant: habit Upright Semi-upright Plant: density Ranges from medium Medium to sparse Foliage: color Medium yellow green Ranges from medium to dark green Fruiting truss: Absent or very weak Medium anthocyanin intensity Fruiting truss: Above Level with position relative to foliage

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘DILIGENT’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-959’ and ‘BG-2010’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Pat. No. 17,864) ‘BG-2010’ Marketable 1,098 1,058 900 yield (gm/plant) Fruit size Large Medium Ranges from medium to large Plant size Ranges from Ranges from Ranges from medium to small medium to small medium to large Fruit color Red Red Ranges from red to dark red

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘DILIGENT’ at various stages of development, as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘DILIGENT’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘DILIGENT’ are approximately five to six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, California.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of April 2014;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of April 2014;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of March 2014; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of March 2014.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘DILIGENT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘DILIGENT’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 3 through 9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘DILIGENT’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2014 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘DILIGENT’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California during early October 2013 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is five to six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from five years of data collected from the 2010 through 2014 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit, unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following Tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower, and pest and disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘DILIGENT’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Color of mature fruit RHS 46B, red Color of internal flesh RHS 44A, medium red Color of core RHS 38A, light red Fruit length (cm) 4.5 Fruit width (cm) 4.2 Fruit size Very large Fruit length/width ratio 1.07, slightly longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 3.8 Average fruit weight (gm) 35.4 Achene color, shaded side RHS 153B, yellow green group Achene color, sun-exposed side RHS 183A, greyed purple group Achene weight (mg) 0.40 Average achenes per berry 396 Marketable fruit yield (gm/plant) 1,098 Predominant fruit shape Conical Difference in shapes between primary Moderate and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Evenness of fruit surface Even or very slightly uneven Evenness of fruit color Even or very slightly uneven Fruit glossiness Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Position of calyx attachment Inserted Attitude of sepals Ranges from downward to outward Size of calyx relative to fruit diameter Slightly smaller Adherence of calyx (when fully ripe) Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Medium Distribution of red color of the flesh Marginal and central Hollow center expression Absent or very weak Fruit flavor Good Soluble solids (% Brix) 7.6 Time of first flower Early Time of first harvest Early Harvest period January to June Harvest maturity Early season Type of bearing Not remontant (short day)

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Plant height (cm) 13.1 Plant spread (cm) 27.0 Plant size Ranges from small to medium Plant habit Upright Plant density Ranges from sparse to medium Plant vigor Medium

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Stolon color RHS 146D, yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin coloration RHS 180D, greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Stolon pubescence Medium Attitude of hairs Upward Average stolon quantity Medium Average stolon diameter at bract (mm) 3.0

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 146A, medium yellow green Color of underside RHS 137C, yellow green group Number of leaflets 3 Shape in cross section Slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering Medium Leaf glossiness Medium Leaf variegation Absent Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 6.3 Width (cm) 5.6 Leaf size Ranges from medium to small Length/width ratio 1.11, longer than broad Shape of base Obtuse Margins (shape of teeth) Rounded (crenate) Serrations per leaf 19.4 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 144A, yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 8.7 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.2 Petiolule color RHS 144A, yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 7.6 Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Petiole pubescence Heavy Stipule: Color RHS 146A, yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration RHS 161B, red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Medium Length (mm) 13.5 Width (mm) 10.8

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181D, greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Length at maturity (cm) 26.0 Position relative to foliage Above Number of flowers Medium Pedicel attitude of hairs Upward Pubescence Medium Attitude at first pick Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Petal color RHS NN155C, white group Sepal color RHS 137B, green group Receptacle color RHS 147B, yellow green group Anther color RHS 13A, yellow group Corolla diameter (mm) 32.5, large Calyx diameter (mm) 33.9 Petal length (mm) 11.0 Petal width (mm) 12.1 Petal length/width ratio 0.90, broader than long Petals per flower  5.6 Sepal length (mm) 11.1 Sepal width (mm)  4.6 Sepal length/width ratio   2.43 Sepals per flower 11.3 Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger Relative position of petals Overlapping Stamen Present Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx Ranges from smaller to same

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘DILIGENT’ Powdery mildew Moderately susceptible Verticillium wilt Moderately susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Two-spotted spider mite Moderately susceptible 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 